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'Gold Rush': Discovery Goes Behind the Scenes in New Special (Exclusive Video)

Executive producer Christo Doyle -- who gets pranked in Friday's episode -- tells THR that this is the first of at least seven planned specials this season.

Discovery Channel is taking viewers behind the scenes of its hit series Gold Rush on Friday night in the first of several new specials.

In the hourlong program, titled The Dirt, executive producer Christo Doyle sits down for a candid conversation with the miners, providing insight into previous episodes and giving a sneak peek at what’s to come this season.

The idea for the special originated with an online show that aired after each new episode last season; those did well enough to generate three one-hour specials. This season, there are plans to air at least seven such specials, Doyle told The Hollywood Reporter.

"It's something very fresh for us at Discovery," he said. "It's a fresh, different look into a show that's working for diehard fans, and hopefully casual viewers will find it incredibly entertaining."

In this sneak peek, which is exclusive to THR, the guys pull a prank on Doyle when he visits the Hoffmans' Klondike claims. (Watch the video above.)

Of the prank, he said the water actually was supposed to land in front of him -- not on his head -- and the mistake could have caused serious injury.

"The guys were freaked out," he said. "There was 1,000 pounds, if not more, of water falling on us."